The FedEx Cup tweaks will be deemed an improvement if the Tour Championship offers a finish worth watching next week.
After the anticlimactic end to the first two years of the PGA Tour Playoffs, a meaningful finish next week is important.
But what's meaningful? There are a number of scenarios that may cause further consternation among golf fans trying to figure out just what the FedEx Cup is all about.
Like the fact that there are two players in next week's field who can win the FedEx Cup without having won an event all season.
If that happens, FedEx Cup credibility takes its hardest hit to date. If you can go the entire season without winning, including the playoffs, and still win the FedEx Cup, what’s the trophy mean?
It’s possible Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington can take home the FedEx Cup next week while going winless this PGA Tour season.
Furyk could finish second at the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup if Tiger Woods finishes fourth or worse while Steve Stricker finishes third or worse and the following players do not win: Zach Johnson, Heath Slocum, Padraig Harrington, Sean O’Hair and Scott Verplank.
Actually, Furyk could finish third next week and take home the FedEx Cup, given the right circumstances.
Padraig Harrington can finish second at the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup if Woods finishes 10th or worse while Steve Stricker finishes fifth or worse, Jim Furyk fourth or worse, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum third or worse and the following players do not win: O’Hair, Verplank, Kenny Perry, Jason Dufner, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Geoff Ogilvy, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen.
After the anticlimactic end to the first two years of the PGA Tour Playoffs, a meaningful finish next week is important.
But what's meaningful? There are a number of scenarios that may cause further consternation among golf fans trying to figure out just what the FedEx Cup is all about.
Like the fact that there are two players in next week's field who can win the FedEx Cup without having won an event all season.
If that happens, FedEx Cup credibility takes its hardest hit to date. If you can go the entire season without winning, including the playoffs, and still win the FedEx Cup, what’s the trophy mean?
It’s possible Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington can take home the FedEx Cup next week while going winless this PGA Tour season.
Furyk could finish second at the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup if Tiger Woods finishes fourth or worse while Steve Stricker finishes third or worse and the following players do not win: Zach Johnson, Heath Slocum, Padraig Harrington, Sean O’Hair and Scott Verplank.
Actually, Furyk could finish third next week and take home the FedEx Cup, given the right circumstances.
Padraig Harrington can finish second at the Tour Championship and win the FedEx Cup if Woods finishes 10th or worse while Steve Stricker finishes fifth or worse, Jim Furyk fourth or worse, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum third or worse and the following players do not win: O’Hair, Verplank, Kenny Perry, Jason Dufner, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Geoff Ogilvy, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen.
Mell, a senior writer, is a 30-year veteran and covers the PGA and LPGA tours for Golf Channel.
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